80 orangutans released to forest

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: As many as 80 orangutans were last year returned to the wild by an international research center.

Spokeswoman for the Center for Rehabilitation and Reintroduction of Orangutan Wanariset Semboja, Jean Mandala, told Antara that it managed to acquire 256 orangutans (pongo pygmaeus) during the year from the public, thanks to its intensive campaign through the mass media.

The orangutans were obtained, either voluntarily or through a sweep by the state-run Natural Resources Conservation Body, from people living in, among other places, Central Java, East Java and Jakarta.

"We regret that some of the orangutans were seized from people belonging to the upper-class," she said.

The primate is an endangered and protected species. -- Antara